Ethiopia’s two houses of parliament elected Taye Atske Selassie as president on Monday (Oct. 7). He was sworn in on the same day, receiving the Constitution from the outgoing president.
Taye succeeds Ethiopia’s first female president, who held the largely ceremonial role for six years, as executive power remains with the prime minister. The Chairperson of the African Union congratulated Taye and reaffirmed the AU’s support for Ethiopia’s democratic development.
A seasoned diplomat, Taye previously served as Ethiopia’s Permanent Ambassador to the United Nations in New York.
His predecessor, Zewde, who made history as Ethiopia’s first female president in 2018, resigned from her role as the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative to the African Union to take on the presidency. Reports suggest there were tensions between her and Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.